Larry and Arlie Hull have found a lot to keep them busy in their
retirement. An initial investment
in a PNG coffee plantation has, over the years, turned into a full time job for
them. They still live in the US,
but they spend about 5-6 months out of the year here in PNG at the Madan coffee
and tea plantation, which they own and oversee.
The Hulls are from the NW and have been connected to many of our
missionaries through the years from that area. They have been here helping out numerous times, as Larry is
a retired orthopedic surgeon.
Shortly after getting involved in the coffee plantation, trips from
Kudjip to tour the plantation started occurring, but for one reason or another,
usually work, I had been unable to go, until this weekend.
The Bennetts were going and invited the McCoys and I along, since we had
never been. Arlie, Larry and one
of their managers, Amos, gave the McCoys and I, a great tour of their
plantation, explaining how everything works. I knew nothing about coffee, and don’t even drink it, but it
was interesting to learn about. 
The Hull’s have learned a number of things as they have gotten into this
business, and we saw some of the effects of what they have learned. They shared with us about shading of
trees, pruning of the trees, using compost, having a worm farm and how
these have helped their production.
They are passionate about what they are doing, both at the plantation
and in the surrounding community. They provide employment for the village people, who otherwise would have no employment, have built a health center for the nearby village, and they are doing literacy work
among the villagers and more.
I now know a lot more about coffee production than I ever did before, now if I would only start to like coffee.
